La Mère Catherine
| Company type | Brasserie |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1793 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Food and drink |
La Mère Catherine () is a brasserie situated in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France. It holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating eatery at the Place du Tertre. The establishment is housed in a structure that once served as the presbytery of the church Saint-Pierre de Montmartre.
History
Established in 1793, La Mère Catherine is among the most longstanding dining venues in Paris. A commemorative plaque at its doorway credits Russian troops in 1814 with coining the term "bistro" after they allegedly called out (быстро, translating to "quickly") to demand swift service. During the early 1900s, management was under Mr. Lemoine while ownership belonged to Père Labille. The restaurant holds historical importance as a meeting place for revolutionary figure Georges Danton during the French Revolution and was also visited by Ernst Jünger amid the Nazi occupation of Paris between 1941 and 1944. Although it once offered on-site billiards for patrons, its current focus is mainly on serving visitors and tourists.
Architecture and fittings
Inside, the brasserie showcases walls clad in dark wood, terra cotta flooring, and exposed wooden beams across the ceiling. The décor includes sizable ceramic crocks, framed oil paintings depicting Montmartre scenes, wooden seating, and tablecloths with a red-and-white checkered pattern.